See, I don't mind the restrictions, nor do I mind having to apply for a permit if nessesary, BUT the problem I have with this state's regulation is:
They don't have the information readily available to the public
They aren't grandfathering in anyone who had these animals before the ban. (Apparently all of the currently kept illegal animals are supposed to just go away and stop exsisting)
For those who are applying to the "Scientific and Educational" permit they don't have that information readily available. 3 months now and I'm still waiting for the application in the mail, even though I am already affiliated with a school that has invited me to sponsor reptile-related events and have multiple written letters of request and recomendation, as well as a registered business name with the state.
Some of their reasoning and species being restricted are just plain uneducated and ridiculous. I mean seriously, when was the last time VT had a plague of tortoises?
They are trying to enforce a DRAFT as if it were an actual regulation. And if you are caught with any of the animals on the list they will confiscate them, which to me seems a little on the illegal side, but nobody I know has tried to stand up to that.
Additionally, any of the people in power at the Fish and Game department have been downright rude and seemed to have very little knowlege of the animals that they are trying to regulate. There was an article not all that long ago where a kid caught a "piranha" in a local pond, when anyone with any clue would have been able to clearly see that the "piranha" was in fact a Pacu... a rather beat up one at that.
They don't have the information readily available to the public
They aren't grandfathering in anyone who had these animals before the ban. (Apparently all of the currently kept illegal animals are supposed to just go away and stop exsisting)
For those who are applying to the "Scientific and Educational" permit they don't have that information readily available. 3 months now and I'm still waiting for the application in the mail, even though I am already affiliated with a school that has invited me to sponsor reptile-related events and have multiple written letters of request and recomendation, as well as a registered business name with the state.
Some of their reasoning and species being restricted are just plain uneducated and ridiculous. I mean seriously, when was the last time VT had a plague of tortoises?
They are trying to enforce a DRAFT as if it were an actual regulation. And if you are caught with any of the animals on the list they will confiscate them, which to me seems a little on the illegal side, but nobody I know has tried to stand up to that.
Additionally, any of the people in power at the Fish and Game department have been downright rude and seemed to have very little knowlege of the animals that they are trying to regulate. There was an article not all that long ago where a kid caught a "piranha" in a local pond, when anyone with any clue would have been able to clearly see that the "piranha" was in fact a Pacu... a rather beat up one at that.
I am more in favour for a list of restricted species, rather than the length rule. I means if you can't own an Anaconda, you can't own an Anaconda. Period. You won't have people that are trying to get around the law by undefeeding them, et cetera. Just a whole less confusing, and easier for herpers to know which is allowed and which is not allowed.